Suction cleaning apparatus



Dec. 4, 1928 E. F. MARTENET SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 15 1927 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES EUGENE IF. MARTINET, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. A. GEIER COM- PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application led .Tune 15,

My linvention relates to improvementsin suction cleaning apparatus, and, more. particularly, to an adjustable brush attachment for suction cleaningnozzles adapted to be actuated and locked in a plurality of operative and inoperative positions with respect to said nozzle. My invention has for its-object the provision of a brush attachment which may readily be actuated conveniently, as by the foot of the user, so that the diii'erent requirements of suction cleaning may adequately be met.

In U. S. Letters Patent to Robertson, No. 1,382,548, June 21, 1921, there is shown and described a retractible brush member ,posif tioned rearwardly of a suction cleaner nozzle, which is adapted to be actuated' into spring-pressed floating relation with respect to the surface that is being cleaned, but the brush does not operate forwardly of the nozzle, nor is it capable of being rigidly locked in its extended .operative position, as re-4 quired for certain classes of combined brushing and suction cleaning.

My present improvement contemplates 'novel features, comprising a brush member having front and rea-r sections equppedwit-h means for actuating it into three distinct operativeand inoperative positions with respect to the nozzle upon, which it is mounted. The actuating means are of the simplest, d1- rectly-acting construction and preferably permit of their actuation by the foot of the user, so that no stooping is necessary and the brush member may be shifted almost instantly from one position to another, depending upon the nature of the work to -be done.

It has been found in practice that while the floating relation of the brush above referred to more commonly is `required for cleaning rugs and floor coverings, frequently a lighter brushing action is more effective at front and back of the nozzle for certain classes of litter, while a rigidly attached and fully .extended brush member is demanded for heavier cleaning operations, and particularly for cleaning adjacent bare floors Ibordering the rugs, without readjustment of the Working height of the suction cleaner nozzle.

The foregoing requirements all are admirably met by my improved construction, embodying a freely Heating brush, and one that mayy be positively locked in fully extended vand retracted postion, the details ofwhich, and typical operation thereof, may

,Ar-4, Fig. 1,

1927. Serial No. 198,958.

best be explained in connection with the acsit-ion with the bristles flush or slightly elel vated above the mouth of the nozzle,

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof illustrating by full and dotted lines the free oating position ofthe brush,

Fi the ully extended, locked position of the brush,

Fig. 4 is a median sectional view on line Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view partially broken away,

Fig.- 6 is an end elevation of the nozzle and brush adjustment of Fig. 2, partially broken away and in section, and

Fig. 7 is a. similar view of the nozzle and brush adjustment of Fig. 3.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 illustrates a detachable nozzle member a of well known construction, and one adapted to be attached to a portable suction cleaner of the type disclosed in the Robertson patent supra, for example. An enclosing brush member b, having rows of bristles Zi and b, respectively. at the front and back ofsaid nozzle, and terminal rubber protectors b3, is afforded a range of adjust- `ment with respect to the nozzle o ening by means of the slotted support c carried by the post c and screw c rearwardly of the nozzle member and practically concealed thereby when the devicek is in positionfor use.

Two substantially square bracket members d, together with the rotatable rod e,'ter minally looped at e to engage said' bracket members and' the retaining spring or resi-lient detent d', respectively co-operate to adjust the brush member. The rod e is pivoted to rotate within the perforated rectangular lugs Screwed rearwardly of nozzle a so that the ends e may be rotated through an arc approximately of 180. When the looped ends e', are in their uppermost position, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and5, it will beseen that the brush is locked in its fully retracted and inoperative position by resilient 'detent d', thus permitting air-cleaning operations 3 is another similar view illustrating alone with the use of the nozzle and suitable associated suction apparatus, not necessary to be shown.

At the extreme left of the rotatable rod e and engaging the looped end e', there is provided an actuating member f, having the angularly bent lugs f', adapted primarily to be actuated by the oot of the user for the purpose of turning the rod e from one position to another, in order to eHect the shifting of the brush from one into any other of its inoperative or operative positions. Thus, in Figs. 2 and 6 the looped ends e are in rectangular relation with the brush and nozzle, so that the `brush member is free to float from the operative to substantially the inoperative position thereof, guided by the slotted support and the square brackets d. This insures a light brushing action for the rugs or carpets in order to dislodge the dust, and one that involves practically no wear of the floor covering.

' ing nozzle,

However, in orderl to afford means for brushing the adjacent bare floor or for dislodging. caked and embedded dirt, the user will press the upper lug f to substantially its rectangular position ofFigs. 8 and 7 with a corresponding actuation of the rod e and its epnds e. Thus the brush member will be locked in its fully extended position, affording rigid brushing attachments at the front and rear of the nozzle for heavy cleaning duty, in association with the air currents normally drawn through the nozzle. The

adjacent bare -oor bordering the edges of the rug may thus be thoroughly cleaned without readjusting the height of Jthe nozzle mouth with res ect to the floor, while a sweeping action oth at the front and rear of the nozzle is eficiently, provided. The change from one position to any other may bevinstantly made'.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a very cheapand simple mechanism interposed between the brush member and nozzle,

and one capable of being operated by the foot of the user, aifords three separate positions for the enclosing brush member with respect to the nozzle. l

Having now described apparatus embodying my inventionl in its preferred form and the utility, thereof whenassociated with suitable suction cleaning apparatus, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following: f

1. The combination with a suction cleanofa brush member vertically adjustab/le with respect to the mouth of said nozzle and operatively associated therewith, a horizontally' positioned rotatable adjustj ing/member interposed between said brush and nozzle, detent means for maintaining the brush in adjusted position, and an actuating lever provided on said adjusting member having `a plurality ofv angularly positioned members adapted to be alternatively engaged by VJthe foot of the user, substantially as set forth 2. The combination with a suction cleaning nozzle, of a'brush member mounted upon the nozzle and vertically adjustable with respect to the mouth of said nozzle and enclosing it atfront and rear, a slide-support for the brush member, provided uponthe nozzle, means interposed between the brush member and the nozzle for insuring its locking in operative and inoperative positions or in floating relation with respect to the nozzle mouth, alternatively, and a detent for maintaining the parts in their temporarily adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

3. Thecombination with a suction clean-- aA vertically moyable brush ing nozzle, of member adjustably mounted thereon adjacent to tlie mouth, a-horizontal rotatable rod having actuating parts extendin outwardly from its axis, brackets posi ioned upon the brush member engaging said actuating-parts only in their diametrical rotated positions, .and a detent upon the nozzle adapted to maintain the actuating parts temporarily in adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a suction cleaning nozzle, of a brush member mounted upon the` nozzle and vertically adjustable at the front and rear of the nozzle mouth, a slide support therefor provided upon the nozzle, a horizontal rotatable rod having actuating arts extending outwardly from its axis, brackets interposed between said rod and brush member engaged by the actuating ,parts in a plurality of' operative positions and released in an intermediate position,

the actuating parts temporarily in any of their adjusted positions, substantially as set forth.

, 5. The combination with Ia suction cleaning nozzle, of a brush member mounted upon the nozzle and vertically adjustable with respect to the the nozzle adapted to maintain the brush and a detent upon thelnozzle adapted to maiitain4 nozzle mouth, a slide support therefor provided upon the nozzle, a hori may be rendered op'- members temporarily in any of the three adas set forth.

justed positions, substantially m o no w a x my yIn testimony whereof I signature.

EUGENE E. MARTiNE'r. 

